Former Governor Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said he is optimistic that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West leadership tussle would soon be resolved, adding that Governor Seyi Makinde is not his leader.
Fayose stated this in an interview with journalists, Wednesday in Abuja during the Sen. Bukola Saraki-led PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee with former governors and deputies in the party.
Fayose said he was also once the only PDP governor in the South West but never claimed the right to be leader to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Oyo and Ogun states governors, Rasheed Ladoja and Otunba Gbenga Daniel respectively.
He said that for instance former and present governor of Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu could not claim to be leader to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the All Progressives Congress (APCs).
He continued, “So, no sitting governor can say he is my leader. It is impossible. Some governors were probably 28, 30 years when I became governor. So, for that person to come because he is a sitting governor, your time too will come and go.
“When Makinde wanted to be governor, I presented him the party’s flag. It is a man of status, a leader that will do that for you, not vice versa.
“So, when I was presenting the flag to him, will he say to the public that a senior colleague presented it? I am a major stakeholders in the west.
“I am saying it that Gov. Makinde by administrative and whatever reason agreeable in our understanding as a party will continue to lead but I am his father.
“When he want to contest, I was instrumental to his emergence. So he will not come out to say it. But as the governor, I will continue to respect him and continue to support him to solve some of the problems.”
“2023 is still far. A fight of yesterday can be resolved tomorrow. It will be resolved. I am not ready to go to another party and Makinde will remain in PDP. He is my brother.”
